Assistant State Construction Engineer (WMS3)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Tumwater, WA

2d•Remote

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking a senior construction leader to provide statewide leadership and technical oversight for the administration of WSDOT construction projects. In this role, you will direct and support multiple regions and Construction Project Engineers on complex construction, contract, and policy matters, including developing and updating department construction policies to reflect current technologies, practices, and procedures. As the Assistant State Construction Engineer, you will serve as a liaison between the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), regional offices, and the construction industry. You will represent the Department on agency-industry teams, facilitate coordination with internal and external partners, and provide training and mentorship to regional staff in construction administration, project management, and engineering practices. The Construction Division is comprised of two units, the State Construction Office and the State Materials Laboratory. The State Construction Office is responsible for maintaining and evolving policies and procedures regarding construction contracts including the Standard Specifications, Construction Manual, and providing technical expertise for the construction and administration of the contracts to the Regions. The State Construction Office monitors and advises on legislative proposals that could impact the administration of WSDOT’s contracts, and this office has proposed and passed legislation. This office also represents the department regarding contract administration to other state agencies, Local Agencies, industry and FHWA.

Requirements

Licensed as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or licensed as a PE in another state with the ability to obtain licensure in Washington State within six (6) months of hire.
Ability to mentor and train staff in construction administration, project management, and engineering requirements.
Ability to lead statewide initiatives and ensure uniform application of policy and standards.
Ability to make independent decisions on complex engineering issues, specification interpretation, entitlement determinations, time extensions, and contract changes.
Ability to conduct risk assessments and make financially and legally defensible recommendations.
Construction Engineering & Contract Administration: Principles and practices of construction engineering, contract administration, and project delivery.
AASHTO and ASTM standards, construction materials, and quality assurance practices.
State and federal public contracting laws, including RCW, WAC, and federal regulations.
Claims processes, and documentation standards.
Construction practices, methods, and constructability analysis.
Alternate dispute resolution processes, claim prevention, and resolution methods.
Risk, Policy & Compliance: Risk assessment and risk-based decision-making principles.
Policy development, specification writing, and implementation of statewide technical guidance.
DBE, MSVWBE, EEO, and civil rights program compliance requirements.
Industry & Interagency Collaboration: Knowledge of roles and functions of construction industry associations (AGC, WACA, WAPA, etc.).
Knowledge of interagency coordination processes with FHWA, Attorney General’s Office, OEO, and Local Programs.
Policy, Specification & Procedure Development: Experience developing and revising statewide specifications, policies, and procedures based on industry needs, research, and observing program performance.
Dispute Resolution & Negotiation: Demonstrated skills to facilitate dispute resolution between regions and contractors.
Demonstrated skills to lead negotiations on high-stakes construction issues and contract changes.
Communication & Facilitation: Experience and skill in writing clear, technically accurate specifications, policy documents, and formal correspondence.
Experience delivering presentations and training to diverse audiences.
Experience facilitating multi-party meetings involving internal stakeholders, FHWA, contractors, and industry groups.
Leadership & Mentoring: Skilled in providing coaching, mentoring, and technical guidance to regional construction personnel and peer managers.
Skilled in leading collaborative teams and participating in agency/industry committees.
Compliance & Oversight: Demonstrated skills in determining compliance with state and federal contracting requirements and documentation standards.
Demonstrated skills in conducting oversight reviews, final inspections, and federal-aid audits.
Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
Service-Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.

Nice To Haves

Advanced Skills with: Federal funding participation rules and eligibility criteria.
New and emerging construction technologies, materials, or methods.
Legislative processes or rulemaking related to construction programs.
Advanced skill in technical writing, including specifications and complex policy documents.
Advanced Enterprise Construction Program Management and Federal Coordination: Experience administering or overseeing Design-Build, GCCM, or other alternative delivery contracts.
Experience leading statewide or agency-level policy development initiatives.
Experience serving as a liaison with FHWA, Attorney General’s Office, or federal oversight bodies.
Experience conducting construction audits, project reviews, or federal compliance reviews.
Prior leadership of industry committees, technical working groups, or multi-agency teams.
Experience negotiating complex contract changes, value engineering proposals, or high-cost construction disputes.
Experience managing or influencing large-scale construction programs exceeding $500M annually.
Specialized training or certification in the following: Construction claims management, Dispute resolution/mediation, Risk management, Specification writing.

Responsibilities

Maintain communication with industry to assess specification effectiveness and implement new products, materials, and research.
Develop new and revised specifications, policies, and procedures; and assist in the dissemination of these to all statewide offices.
Provide direct monitoring and oversight of activities in assigned field offices and assigned regions.
Approve/disapprove change orders for construction contracts that are beyond the authority of the regions.
Provide troubleshooting services to region managers and project engineers.
Ensure compliance with WSDOT/FHWA stewardship agreement.
Assist in training and insuring compliance with Minority, Small, Veteran, and Women's Business Enterprise (MSVWBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs.